ChocolateBet: November 5, 2010

My Kind of Dilemma

Chocolate(s) of the Day
3 pieces
Hotel Chocolat, Ltd.
The Sleekster - Classic Christmas Collection
1.) Cinnamon Praline - Very Good (left, front)
2.) Red Berry Mousse - Very Good (right, front)
3.) Cranberry and Apple - Very Good (center, back)

Weight: 1.23 oz. (34.8 g.) (estimate)/ 12.36 oz. (350 g.) total box of 30 pieces
Calories: 184 calories (estimate) for 3 pieces
Cost: $N/A - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - from Hotel Chocolat, based in London, England

I decided to add an eighth day to Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week today -- so that I could eat three more chocolates from this Hotel Chocolat Christmas collection.

It was difficult to choose which ones; however, if this is the toughest choice I have to make all week, I can handle that.

The milk chocolate Cinnamon Praline (bun-shaped, decorated with red) had a hazelnut praline filling, flavored with cinnamon. I loved that I could actually taste the cinnamon. The Red Berry Mousse had a light, airy -- and, as advertised -- mousse-like center flavored with raspberries and strawberries. And, last but not least, was the dark chocolate Cranberry and Apple. This piece was described as having a "frisky cranberry compote, whose tart flavours are balanced by a creamy apple ganache." I can't argue with that. I thought there was just the right amount of tartness and natural-tasting cranberry and apple in this one; and I liked that it wasn't overly sweet.

ChocolateBet: November 4, 2010

Rum Ingot, Florentine Dream

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces + 1 micro-bite
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
1.) Rum Ingot - Very Good +
2.) Florentine Dream - Very Good - Very Good +
3.) The Festive Wreath - Caramel, Cookies, Milk Chocolate - Very Good
Calories: 130 calories (for all three)
Cost: $NA - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - from Hotel Chocolat, London, England

I enjoyed setting up a new computer this week. Monitor -- check; keyboard -- check; mouse: check; chocolate power source (in the form of a Rum Ingot and a Florentine Dream) -- double check.

Chocolate is a good power source. The Rum Ingot was flavored with rum from Saint Lucia, blended into a dark ganache. The Florentine Dream had a praline filling, and was topped with honey and almond florentine -- creating a texture blend with just the right amount of smoothness and crunch.

Also sampled today: "The Festive Wreath." All three chocolates came from London-based Hotel Chocolat  -- I may not be able to travel to England this month, but having these samples to evaluate for the Christmas Holidays is surely the next best thing.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week.